APPLETON — Police say the former treasurer of an Appleton church stole nearly $6,300 from its bank account.

Jerry R. Kasten, 54, of Appleton, was charged Wednesday in Outagamie County Court with counts of theft and obstructing police.

Officials from St. John United Church of Christ went to police in October after noticing a suspicious cash withdrawal of nearly $3,000. The church didn't take cash from the account. Instead, payroll funds were taken from the account automatically, the criminal complaint says.

Only four people, including Kasten, had access to the account.

During an interview, Kasten said he didn't make any withdrawals from the church account and believed the lost $3,000 was the result of a bank error. Officials at Fox Communities Credit Union, however, determined Kasten made at least four withdrawals in 2008 and 2009. Documents from the transactions had Kasten's signature, the complaint says.

The theft charge carries maximum penalties of $10,000 in fines and six years of imprisonment. Kasten could get up to a $10,000 fine and nine months in jail on the obstruction charge.

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